Vertical retort for the carbonization of coal and the like



VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION' 0? com, AND THE LIKE L A T E T SE w l R Filed Dec. 6. 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 12, 1936 fwgs-r ET AL2,040,582

VERTICAL BETORT- FOR THE CARBONIZATION OF GOAL AND THE-LIKE Filed Dec.6, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wade/4J0 ldJ West. 7 Ernest. Nest.

May 12, 1936, F. J. WEST r 9 05 VERTICAL REPORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION OFCOAL AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Frederick West.Ernest West.

May 12, 1936. F. J. WEST ET AL 2,040,582

VERTICAL RE'IOHT FOR THE GARBGNIZATION OF COAL AND THE LIKE Filed Dec.6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet '4 Jrederia J- West May 12, 1936. F. J. WEST ET 3VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION OF COAL AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 6,1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FrederoblJ 5%;

ARE/r51 Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERTICALRETORT FOR THE CARBONIZA- TION F COAL AND THE LIKE pany of Great BritainApplication December 6, 1933, Serial No. 701,198 In Great BritainDecember 8, 1932 2 Claims.

This invention relates to vertical retorts for the carbonization of coaland the like, and has ffor'its object to provide an improvedconstruction of retort, with its heating means, which will efiectconsiderable economy in heat requisite to efiect the carbonizationoperation and which will by reason of its simplicity and method ofheating and operation be readily started up and controlled.

The invention comprises a vertical retort for the carbonization of coaland the like in which the carbonization space is of ring-like or annularform, the inner wall forming the outer wall of vertical combustionchambers bounded by the carbonization space, so that the coal duringcarbonization forms an enclosure for the combustion chambers and absorbsthe heat thereof until carbonization is completed, when a new charge isintroduced to the carbonization space. With our improvement there is noportion of the combustion chambers (except the waste gas outlet) notbounded by the carbonization zone so that 'direct radiation from thecombustion chambers to the atmosphere is prevented. We are thus enabledto effect considerable economy in heat consumption without the necessityfor specially lagging or insulating the setting.

The invention further comprises the arrangement of the combustionchambers in sectional plan in the form of the spaces between the spokesof a wheel of which the rim is the carbonization space and the hubserves to keep the combustion gases close against the wall of thecarbonization chamber.

The invention further comprises the arrangement at the base of theannular carbonization space of an annular cooling space divided into twosuperposed sections with removable means for separating the twosections, the lower section having a discharge door thereon, and meansadmitting steam to the two sections.

' Referring to the accompanying explanatory drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of retort constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. 4

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the retort setting, with the passagesfor supplying-air and gas to the base of the setting shown in sectioFigure 5 is a detail View partly in sectional elevation and partly inelevation showing the means for lowering and raising the coke dischargedoor at the base of the annular retort.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is partly a sectional elevation and partly an elevation of amodified construction of 'retort setting in accordance with thisinvention.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan View on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view on the line 99 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional plan view drawn to an enlarged scale of part ofthe means shown in Figure '7 for controlling the descent of the coke tothe lower section of the coke cooling space.

Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the part of said means shown in Figure7.

In Figures 1-6, the retort setting comprises an annular carbonizationspace a and a series of combustion chambers 12, the outer wall 0 of thecombustion chambers being the inner wall of the carbonization space. Theouter wall (I of the latter space is enclosed within brickwork e and anouter metal casing j which gives strength and rigidity to the setting.There are suitable inspection doors through the metal case, brickwork eand retort wall d, one of which is shown at g in Figures 1 and 4.

The annular carbonization chamber a diverges from top to bottom and isprovided at its top with gas oiitakes, one of which is shown at h, inFigure 4, and with feeding hoppers 2, Figure 1, which receive coal froma central hopper 7 and coke from an outer hopper 70. Valve plates mcontrol the passage of coal or coke to the hoppers i and so to theannular carbonization space. After the latter has been emptied breeze isfed into the said space to cover the discharge door n at the base of theretort. Afterwards, the coal to be carbonized is fed into thecarbonization space a.

The secondary air for combustion is supplied under pressure by the pipe0, Figure 1, which passes through a heater p, heated by the waste gasesfrom the combustion chambers b, down a lagged pipe q to an annularpassage 1' in the base of the setting, which communicates with a seriesof vertical gas passages r one for each combustion chamber. The wastegas flue from the tops of the combustion chambers b to the secondary airheater p is shown at s. The vertical passages r communicate with each ofthe combustion chambers b by passages 25, each of which is controlled bya damper plate u.

hand'wheel 22 thereon. r r The upper surface of the door n slopes out-'wards to direct the coke being discharged from the annular retort spaceoutwardly for conveni- The producer gas for the combustion chambersenters the central passage 1) in. the base of the setting and issuesthrough individual ducts to leading one to each combustion chamber, theexit being adjacent to a secondary air duct or orifice so that. a flameis produced by the combustion of the producer gas, which travels up thecombustion chamber and heats the carbon-' ization space. Each duct w'iscontrolled by a damper w l The coke discharge door n which is of annularor ring-like form is supported by two rams :1: at diametrically oppositepoints, the said rams having rack teeth thereon engaged by pinions yupon shafts a which are rotated by worms and worm wheels 20 fromlthe'shaft 2! having the V ence of collection.

The coke in therretort space is steamed before 7 discharge for theproduction of water gas in the known manner.

With our improvement, the carbonization space which is of annular formis in direct con tact with the combustion chambers within so that allthe heating space is enclosed by the carbonization space. The externalwall of the carbonization space can be strengthened by the enclosurethereof within the metal casing f. The

7 ing space between the discharge door n and the base of thecarbonization space a which surrounds the combustion chambers b. Thesaid cooling space which is a continuation downwards of thecarbonization space comprises two sections A and B, Figure 7,the'capacityof thetwo sections together being such that they will notquite accommodate all the coke from the remainder of the annular space,but the capacity of the part B is equal or approximately to that of A.Between A anclBris located the means, shown in detail in Figures 10 and11, for holding up the coke in A whilst the coke in B is beingdischarged past the doc-r21. Such means consist of a number of plates 23each pivoted at 24in a fixed annular frame member 25, there being a peg26 in each. plate which projects into a cam slot 2?,

; the said cam slots being in a ring 28 having helical rack teeth 29thereon-on its periphery engaged by a helix 3!! on the spindle 3|. By,rotating the latter, the plates 23 are turned from a position in whichthey act as a door to hold up the coke in the space B, which is theposition shown in full lines in the figures, to a position in which theyare withdrawn from the annular coke space so that coke can fall freeelyfrom B 'to A, Steam for steaming the coke can be admitted at 32 and 33or at other desired parts.

Assuming that the whole of the annular space from top to bottom of theretort setting is full of coke because carbonizatin of the charge in thecarbonization zone is completed, then, due to steaming, the coke in thespaces A and B will be relatively cool. The spindle 3| is turned tocause the plates 23 to hold up the coke in A and The coke from. thecarbonization space of course falls simultaneously partly into the spaceA. The plates 23 are againrmoved to hold up the coke in A whilst B isdischarged through the door n.

When the latter is again closed and the plates 23' displaced outwards,the charge which was previously in the carbonization zone, will nowoccupy thespaces A and B and a short distance above A. The excessmaterial above what is contained in A and B serves eventually to coverfirst the plates 23'and then the door 11. during the discharge stagesand as it is cooler than the incandescent newly carbonized material, itacts to protect such plates and door against overheating. r

In the construction shown in Figures 1-6, coke breeze is fed intothecarbonization spacebefore the coal charge in order to cover andprotect the discharge door during the carbonization period. 7

In the constructions illustrated, the divisions between the combustionchambers strengthen the chambers and act to conduct heat to thecarbonization space. The combustion chambers in effect occupy thespaces'between what might be termed a wheel shape in sectional plan (seeFigures 2 and 8), the spokes of thewheelformlng the divisions betweenthe chambers and the hub of the wheel ensuring thatthe combustionproducts are maintained close to the inner wall or the carbonizationspace.

Due to the small amount of brickwork involved inLa complete, setting,the drying of a setting and the starting of carbonization can beeffected in a fraction of the time, taken with usual constructions ofvertical retorts.

We claim:

1. An intermittently operating vertical retort= comprising an, unbrokenannular carbonization chamber diverging from top to bottom, meansadapted to insert material. to be carbonized directly. into the top of.said annular chamber, means to withdraw material from the base of saidchamber, means to remove 'gas from the top of said chamber, and .aplurality of, vertical 7 combustion chambers located within and boundedby said annular carbonization chamber adapted to heat the contents of.saidcarbonization' chamber, together with means for the supply of.combustibleto the base of said combustion chambers and for withdrawingthe products'of combustion from the upper ends thereof centrally abovethe carbonizationv chamber, said combustion chambers being arranged inthe form of a unitary structure, in horizontal cross-section whereofsaid chambers are arranged inthe form of the spaces between the spokesof a wheel having a central hub and whereof the rim is formed bytheinner wall of the annular carbonization space'aforesaid. I

V 2. An intermittently operating vertical retort comprising an unbrokenannular carbonization chamber diverging from top to bottom, meansadapted to insert materialto'be carbonizedgdirectly into the top of saidannularmchamber, means to withdraw material from the base of saidchamber, means to remove gas from the top of said chamber, a verticalcombustion chamber located centrally within and bounded bysaid annularcarbonization chamber and adapted to form the sole heating means for thecontents of said carbonization chamber, the carbonization chamberforming therefore a heat insulating surround for the heating chamber,with means for supplying combustible to the base of said combustionchamber and for withdrawing the products of combustion from the upperend thereof above the carbonization chamber, the lower portion of saidannular carbonization chamber extending below the combustion chamber,with means to inject steam into said extension, removable means adaptedto divide said extension into two superposed sections, with cokedischarge means at the base of the lower section, said removable meansbeing constituted by a series of plates each pivoted for movement in ahorizontal plane from a position in which it extends across said annularextension to a position in which it is clear thereof.

FREDERICK JOSEPH WEST.

ERNEST WEST.

